E-commerce in Serbia has doubled during the state of emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and growth is expected in the coming period, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce announced.
E-commerce in Serbia should have 3.3 million users by the end of the year and generate revenue of around 370 million euros, the PKS estimated.
In March and April, apart from groceries whose sales increased tenfold compared to the average monthly turnover before the pandemic, computers and computer equipment, small household appliances, clothing and footwear were mostly bought online.
“Large retail chains have activated and strengthened their online stores and their own delivery services due to the required high standards for the transport of food products,” said the president of PKS, Marko Chadez.
According to him, traders in technical goods significantly compensated for the decline in classic sales and the loss due to closed shops and shopping malls, mostly thanks to large purchases of computers that companies bought to equip employees to work from home.
“Small retailers and manufacturers reacted quickly and used the opportunity to access free of charge or for a minimal fee the platforms that IT companies specializing in e-commerce have created especially for them,” Chadez pointed out.
Catering facilities have adapted to the crisis by introducing food delivery to retain workers and allow customers to use their services unhindered, and these companies had a large increase in the number of orders, 109 percent more in April than in March, the PKS said, N1 reports.
